San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria shared on Sunday June Mar Fajardo may play in the PBA Philippine Cup finals if the series goes the distance.
“I told them give me a Game 7 and he (Fajardo) will play,” Austria said after San Miguel roared back to take a 110-104 overtime win in Game 4.
Fajardo had already joined the San Miguel side on the bench, in street clothes, as he also received his fourth Best Player of the Conference award prior to Game 4 tip-off.
While Fajardo is doing well with his recovery, the Beermen mentor reiterated he does not want to rush his prized player back in action.
“We don’t want to disrupt his healing process. Nakakalakad na. He wants to play, I am the only one preventing him. He is the future of the PBA, Gilas, San Miguel,” Austria said.
Which is why Austria will only field in Fajardo most likely if San Miguel will be able to force a Game 7.
It is a gargantuan task that has never been done in PBA history, although the Beermen have done an impressive job making each game in the finals competitive.
Austria relayed how he told his players to keep fighting prior to Game 4.
“You can never know what will happen and I told them before the game, miracles are just around the corner,” he said, adding he hopes momentum would swing their way although he knows the team has to brace for a tougher fight from the Alaska Aces in Game 5.
“I hope yung momentum mapunta samin but we have to prepare hard. I am sure they were embarrassed,” Austria said.
